Compression Pantyhose vs Tights vs Leggings: How to Choose

Compression pantyhose and ordinary tights can look almost the same in the packet. One is built to press hardest at the ankle and ease off up the leg, to a pressure printed on the label; the other is built to look good and keep you warm. Compression leggings add a third choice that stops above the ankle. This guide sorts out which is which, and how to choose, size and put on a pair without starting a run.

What makes compression pantyhose different from ordinary tights

Medical compression hosiery is graduated. A review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal describes graduated compression stockings as putting the most pressure at the ankle, with the pressure gradually decreasing up the garment, and says they are made to strict medical and technical specifications to give a specific ankle pressure (Lim and Davies, CMAJ 2014). That pressure is what the mmHg number on the label describes. The review adds that the pressure you actually get also depends on the fabric, the size and shape of your legs, and how you move.

Fashion tights are sold on look and thickness, usually with a denier number, and the packet does not state an ankle pressure. Support tights sit in between. The CMAJ review groups flight socks and elastic support stockings as nonmedical support hosiery. They are often used for tired, heavy and aching legs, but they usually press much less than graduated stockings, the pressure is even rather than graduated, and they do not have to meet the medical specifications.

So the word support on its own tells you little. MedlinePlus even lists support stockings as another name for compression stockings (MedlinePlus). The label is the better test, so look for a stated mmHg range and the word graduated. If neither is there, you have no stated pressure to go on.

The three formats compared

All three can reach the waist, but the foot, the pressure and the purpose differ.

If you need compression that reaches the waist, the choice is between pantyhose and leggings, and it mostly comes down to the foot. Pantyhose cover the foot and ankle, while footless leggings leave both uncovered. Ask your clinician which coverage suits you. For varicose veins, the CMAJ review found there was not enough evidence to say whether below-knee or thigh-length stockings work best, so there is no single right answer from symptoms alone. The store's women's compression pantyhose range carries both formats side by side.

Sheer, opaque or open toe

The store makes its 20-30 mmHg pantyhose in three styles, and the listings show real differences between them.

• Sheer. A see-through look that suits office dress codes, skirts and formal wear. The sheer 20-30 mmHg pantyhose, A207, list 84% nylon and 16% spandex, a reinforced heel and toe, a wide toe pocket, flat panty seams and a cotton crotch, in sizes up to 3XL.
• Opaque. Hides the leg like a thick tight and suits trousers and boots. The opaque A204 lists a medium-weight knit of 78% nylon and 22% Lycra spandex, a reinforced heel and toe, and a two-way stretch the listing says makes it easier to put on and take off. It runs from Small through 7XL.
• Open toe. Leaves the toes out, which helps if your toes dislike being squeezed. Open toe pantyhose still cover the foot and heel. The store's open toe A214 is opaque, listed as latex-free, 85% nylon and 15% spandex, in Small through 7XL, and its listing notes that the snug fit can make it a bit tedious to put on.

All three are listed at 20-30 mmHg, but the blends and weights differ, so check the size chart and fit notes for the pair you pick.

The sheer and opaque 20-30 mmHg picks

Sheer, toe to waist, reinforced heel and toe

Sheer Compression Pantyhose for Women 20-30mmHg, A207

From $32.29

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Opaque, toe to waist, Small through 7XL

Opaque Compression Pantyhose for Women 20-30mmHg, A204

From $37.99

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Choosing the level

Format and level are two separate choices. The CMAJ review describes 20-30 mmHg as medium compression and higher pressures as high compression, and calls pressures under 20 mmHg low compression, while noting that class labels vary between standards. The NHS says there are different types of stockings and that it is important to talk to a doctor or pharmacist to get the right type for you (NHS, varicose veins). Check the stated mmHg range and choose the level with your clinician; stronger is not automatically better. Our guides to what 20-30 mmHg means and 20-30 versus 30-40 mmHg explain the bands in detail.

The store's women's pantyhose come in three levels. The sheer 8-15 mmHg pantyhose are the lightest, with a sheer heel and toe the listing suggests for open toe and open heel shoes. The sheer 15-20 mmHg pair sits in the middle and is listed as latex-free. The three styles above are the 20-30 mmHg options.

All six styles named in this guide sit in one collection.

Women's compression pantyhoseBrowse 6 products →

Sizing and putting them on without runs

Pantyhose have to fit you from the ankle to the hips, so go by the size chart, not your usual clothing size. The CMAJ review says graduated stockings need to be measured and fitted properly, with the measuring done by a trained health professional, and MedlinePlus suggests a medical equipment store that can measure your legs. Legs have the least swelling early in the morning, MedlinePlus notes, so measure then, at the points the chart asks for. If your numbers fall between two sizes, ask a fitter, and if a pair feels too uncomfortable, MedlinePlus says to contact your provider.

MedlinePlus advises putting compression stockings on first thing in the morning. Its method is to roll the stocking down to the heel, put your foot in as far as it goes, then unroll it up the leg and smooth out any wrinkles (MedlinePlus). With pantyhose, do this one leg at a time, and bring both legs up to the thigh before easing the waist up so neither side twists.

Snags often start from something sharp. Take off rings and file rough nails. Rubber dishwashing gloves, which MedlinePlus suggests for adjusting and smoothing the fabric, also keep fingernails off it, and a little cornstarch on your legs may help it slide. A stocking donner helps if bending is hard. During the day, do not let the pantyhose bunch or wrinkle. MedlinePlus advises washing them each day with mild soap, air drying, and keeping two pairs so one is always dry.

When leggings or thigh-highs beat pantyhose

Pantyhose are the all-in-one choice, with foot, leg and hips in one garment and nothing to show at the ankle under a skirt or dress. Two other formats cover the gaps.

• Leggings make sense when you want your own socks and shoes, or when your feet dislike compression. The trade-off is that the foot is not compressed. The store's A717 underdress leggings are listed at 20-30 mmHg, footless, with a control top. Our footless and underdress leggings guide covers when footless works and when it does not.
• Thigh-highs suit a warm room, a skirt, or anyone who finds a waistband uncomfortable, because they stop at the upper thigh and are held by a top band. Our thigh high compression stockings guide covers top bands, toe styles and staying up.

A longer garment does not automatically mean a higher pressure level, so check the stated mmHg range whichever format you choose. For long shifts on your feet, see our guide to compression for standing all day.

When to ask a doctor first

Graduated compression is not right for everyone. The NHS says compression stockings are not suitable if you have problems with blood flow in your arteries, and that a specialist can check for this (NHS). The CMAJ review lists these among the contraindications to graduated compression stockings.

• Peripheral arterial disease or poor arterial circulation in the legs
• Severe numbness or reduced sensation in the feet or legs, as with some diabetic neuropathy
• Fragile or broken skin, dermatitis, or recent skin grafts on the leg
• Severe swelling caused by heart failure

If any of these apply, or no clinician has looked at the symptoms you want to manage, ask first. If you are pregnant, talk to your care team; our maternity compression leggings guide covers that case. Swelling in one leg, especially with pain, needs urgent medical advice rather than a new pair of hosiery. If leg pain or swelling comes with chest pain or shortness of breath, call for emergency help.

Quick decision guide

FAQ

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether firm compression fits your situation, especially if you have a circulatory condition, diabetes, or are pregnant.